Means for heating a container electrically



Feb. 6, 1934. c. A, Ross MEANS FOR HEATING A CONTAINER ELECTRICALLY Filed oct. 24, 1932 E. INVENTOR @wm/rea 5.793%. j? a1 g( Q ATTORNEY if the heater left Patented Feb. 6, 1934 s'rA'rss PATEN fili MEANS FOR HEATING A CONTAINER ELECTRICALLY 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful method of, and means for, heating a container electrically.

lt is the principal object of my invention to provide for heating nursing bottles, invalid food receptacles, hot drink and other containers, an outside vessel partly filled with a solution through which an electric current passes upon the insertion ci the inner container. On the inside surface ci the outside vessel are two electrodes which are disposed one above the other so that when the inner container is inserted, it will raise the level ci the conducting liquid above the upper electrode to close an electric circuit through it; and when that container is withdrawn, the liquid will descend below the upper electrode to open that circuit. In other words, the liquid becomes a hydraulic switch to close and open an electric heating circuit for the contents of 'the inner 20 container when the latter is placed within and taken out of the outside vessel.

The advantages of this control of the heating unit by the insertion and withdrawal of the inner container are many. It enables the current to b turned on by the single operation oi placing a n1 sing bottle, for example, in the heating liquid, and to be turned off by the mere removal of that bottle. It further elects the automatic opening oi the electric heating circuit turned on, since under this condition the solution will eventually boil away to a point where it descends below the top electrode to open that circuit.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specication and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one forni oi embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the outer vessel after the inner one has been nsertecl far enough therein to raise the level of the conducting iuid to the upper electrode. Figure 2 a vertical sectional view taken through the outer vessel alter the inner one has been removed, showing how the level of the conducting fluid has descended below the top electrode to open the electric heating circuit through that huid. And Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the outer and inner vessels on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing for a detailed description of the invention, the numeral 1 designates an outer vessel or container made of materials such as glass and enameled iron (Cl. 21S-40) that do not conduct electricity. It need not be a good conductor of heat.

Adapted to t into the outer vessel 1 is an inner container 2 also constructed oi materials that do not conduct electricity. The inner container is of a size 'to rit within the outer vessel l so as to leave between them a space to receive a good conducting liquid 3 such as salt water.

Secured within the outer vessel l are two vertical spaced electrodes such as the bands 4 and 65 5. The band electrode fl is preferably near the bottom of the outer vessel l while well above it is the upper band electrode 5. From the latter there protrudes through a hole in the side` of the vessel 1, an electrical connection 6 which is 70 formed at its outer en-d to receive a plug 7. A similar electrical connection 8 projects through a hole in the wall oi the outer vessel to receive a plug 9. By wires l() and ll respectively, the plugs 8 and 9 are connected to a source of elec- 75 tric current (not shown).

The outer vessel 1 is preferably illled with the conducting uid 3 to the level indicated in Figure 2. Although it may be lled to a higher level, the requisite is that it does not reach the upper electrode 5, since it is the purpose of the invention to effect this result by the insertion of the inner container. The liquid 3 thus becomes a hydraulic switch to close the electric circuit between the two electrodes when the inner container is inserted in the outer vessel. The salt solution is then heated by the current which ilows through it to heat in turn the babys food, invalids food, hot drinks or the like within the inner container.

If the heater is left turned on by mistake, the salt water 3 will eventually boil away to a point below the upper electrode, thus opening the electric circuit to turn the heater off automatically. Under normal conditions, however, the brine solution, whose heating rate can be varied by altering its strength, does not rise to the boiling point.

After the contents oi the inner container l have been heated to the desired degree, it may be easily taken out, whereupon the level of the liquid 3 in the outer vessel will descend below the upper electrode 5 to turn the heater oir.

It is thus seen that l. have provided for baby bottles, invalid food, hot drink and other containers, a simple and eicient electric heater which is turned on and off by the mere insertion and removal of the bottle, or other container, to be heated.

I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or alterations may be made therein Within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with an outer vessel, of an inner container adapted to be inserted therein, two vertically spaced electrodes on the inner surface of said outer vessel, an electric circuit including said electrodes, and a conducting liquid in said outer vessel, said liquid covering the lower electrode and adapted to be raised by the insertion of the inner container to contact the upper electrode and thereby close the electric circuit between the electrodes to heat said liquid and through it the contents of the inner com tainer.

2. The combination with an outer vessel, of an inner container adapted to be inserted therein, a band electrode within the outer vessel near its bottom, a second band electrode within said vessel well above the first electrode, an electric circuit including said electrodes and a conducting liquid covering the lower electrode and adapted to be raised by the insertion of the inner container to contact the upper electrode and thereby close the electric circuit between the electrodes to heat said liquid and through it the contents of the inner container.

CARROLL A. ROSS. 

